Spending a month in Nagoya, central Japan, between November and December 28, the 17-year-old enjoyed an incredible experience living with a host family and attending Japanese language classes.

Despite having been there three times previously, she said it was still an amazing thing to do, especially as part of a $7500 scholarship.

“For me it was really amazing, it gave me a chance to develop my language skills even further,” the teenager said.

“I’ve been studying Japanese now for four years and this trip enhanced it.

“Classes were only taught it Japanese, my host mother only spoke in Japanese – no English at all – so while it was a struggle, it was a great opportunity to buckle down and force myself to learn it, which was very enjoyable.

“I loved it.”

The lucky teen, who is now studying in Singleton, received the scholarship through Mitsui Coal Holdings, who gave a wide range of students the chance to win the opportunity.

And, as a daughter of a Bengalla mine worker she was eligible.

Being picked as one of only three across the country was an overwhelming feeling, Piper admitted, and she revealed just how emotional she got after being given the good news.

“I cried, they called me up a few days after I’d done my interview and said ‘congratulations you’ve won it’,” she said.

“I didn’t believe it at first; I just thought ‘no way, that’s crazy’.”

She wasn’t the only one who was affected though as her mother Richelle, a production operator at Bengalla, said it was an exciting time for her, too.

“When Piper found out, we knew it was an amazing opportunity,” her mum said.

“We wanted her to win it, so it was great.

“It was over Christmas, so that was a pretty big struggle but I was happy to be a support system.

“I kept her going, kept her positive and reminded her how much of a fantastic opportunity it was.”

Both Piper and her mother are extremely thankful for the generosity of Bengalla and acknowledged the huge amount of effort that was put into organising the exchange program.